Shibari Academy

The Somerville Bowline is what happens when Shibari meets the XXI century. This single column tie was invented in 2009 and soon became a favorite among professional Shibari practitioners, quickly spreading through Shibari workshops worldwide. It is a bit more complicated to tie than the basic single column, but you'll get the hang of it in no time and it will soon become your favorite too.

What's great about the Somerville Bowline single column tie, is that it can be untied from either end of the rope. This is best explained with an example: 

             Imagine you are tying your partner's wrists behind their back with their arms in a box-like position. When you are done tying their wrists using the Somerville Bowline, you will use the rest of that same rope to tie a basic chest harness. When you are finished tying the chest harness your partner tells you they are tired and really want their hands untied. If it were any other single column tie, you would have to untie the entire chest harness before being able to untie their wrists. Not with the Somerville Bowline! With this beautifully functional tie, you can untie your partner's wrists without having to untie the entire chest harness, making it fantastic in case of emergency or discomfort. 

It's important to note that this tie will hold really well under tension, so make sure the rope is slack when untying it. 

Practice tying the Somerville Bowline on your ankle until you get the hang of it. It's a good idea to be mindful when untying it as well so you fully understand how the tie works. 

Have fun tying!

Eve